Last edit by: lowkeyflyer
Carried forward from 2019-2022 thread
As of Nov 11, 2020, Meta gebits are getting declined when used for MO/BP purchases at MC/SD. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. READ the posts in the 2019-2022 thread and add a data point with details. USB and GD gift cards do not seem to be affected.
Prior threads can be found here:
2019-2022: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...19-2022-a.html
Prior to 2019: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...rt-2018-a.html
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
Note: The policy for allowing gift cards as payment for money orders can be more restrictive with certain stores or certain clerks. Just because an employee says there's a new restrictive policy "for all Walmarts" means nothing. There are plenty of cases where the employee is incorrect and the new policy is only regional or store specific.
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Tested Gebit (gift debit) cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. See above on Visas issued by MetaBank. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. Follow the posts below for the latest information.
3. MC issued by US bank OR Metabank MC (Giftcards.com) can work, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
4. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.(VGC issued by Sunrise also limited to $99/swipe, same as Metabank issued cards, and Sunrise was available immediately).
5. USB work
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually $1 each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for $1 x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transactions: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
5. Kiosk: Very few Kate's can sell money orders anymore.>>>>Sometime 2016, a lot of WM supercenters have done away with Kate (kiosks that allows loading of prepaids/sell $500 MOs). As of today, MOST, if not ALL WMs, have replaced this with the regular slim ATM to check balance/withdraw money. Kates are a distant and pleasant memory now.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
7. SSN/ID entry - Any MO purchases in one transaction at or over $3K requires you to input your SSN. Any MO at or over $1K requires ID input (and ID requirement can also be forced by cashier at any amount).
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
As of Nov 11, 2020, Meta gebits are getting declined when used for MO/BP purchases at MC/SD. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. READ the posts in the 2019-2022 thread and add a data point with details. USB and GD gift cards do not seem to be affected.
Prior threads can be found here:
2019-2022: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...19-2022-a.html
Prior to 2019: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...rt-2018-a.html
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
Note: The policy for allowing gift cards as payment for money orders can be more restrictive with certain stores or certain clerks. Just because an employee says there's a new restrictive policy "for all Walmarts" means nothing. There are plenty of cases where the employee is incorrect and the new policy is only regional or store specific.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tested Gebit (gift debit) cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. See above on Visas issued by MetaBank. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. Follow the posts below for the latest information.
3. MC issued by US bank OR Metabank MC (Giftcards.com) can work, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
4. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.(VGC issued by Sunrise also limited to $99/swipe, same as Metabank issued cards, and Sunrise was available immediately).
5. USB work
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually $1 each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for $1 x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transactions: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
7. SSN/ID entry - Any MO purchases in one transaction at or over $3K requires you to input your SSN. Any MO at or over $1K requires ID input (and ID requirement can also be forced by cashier at any amount).
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2022-24)
#136
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
Thx for this info and yes the phone system did ask me to change pin…..which I never do since I usually drain them in 30 minutes. I was thinking I should just wait till next day to drain….as Carrisco in post 129 said to do. I will now change pin and wait the 24 hrs to use card. I very rarely buy USB anymore and stick to Vanilla
normally.
normally.
Doesn't hurt to test things as long as you have a friendly CSR and you don't mind the headache of having to call and unblock the card.
-b.
#137
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
Exact same here. I had one particular WM with really faint ink, and finally I started mentioning it when I'd buy a MO. The staff would tell me they'd put in an order for new a new ink ribbon but it would not get fulfilled. We'll see if WU is any better.
That is one part I do know. This is the reason why gift cards say redeemable anywhere Visa is accepted in the US. In the old days VGCs did not have that US only limitation and money launderers would buy stacks of VGCs with US currency and then liquidate them overseas, so the good only in the US limitation was added.
That is one part I do know. This is the reason why gift cards say redeemable anywhere Visa is accepted in the US. In the old days VGCs did not have that US only limitation and money launderers would buy stacks of VGCs with US currency and then liquidate them overseas, so the good only in the US limitation was added.
#138
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 2
It seems that changing the PIN after purchase is a necessary step. You can test the 24 hours but I'm not sure that's a current requirement (but it could be in your area as I've heard of them doing it, regionally).
Doesn't hurt to test things as long as you have a friendly CSR and you don't mind the headache of having to call and unblock the card.
-b.
Doesn't hurt to test things as long as you have a friendly CSR and you don't mind the headache of having to call and unblock the card.
-b.
#139
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
UPDATE! Changed pin over phone and money order purchase went through 10 minutes later! More hassle to add changing pin to my weekly MS errand but I like this move by US BANK. Without card CID, scammer cannot charge any amount even if they get hold of the card number and expiration date with last 4 digits as default pin unless they tampering with the physical card package!
Also, an interesting side DP... When doing a BB VISA load, I discovered that if the first attempt fails due to a PIN issue with the card, all subsequent attempts fail, even if the subsequent cards have no issue. Transaction needs to be totally canceled and setup again. I know this is not the case with MO transactions as I have had to swipe and retry on multiple fails but with 70-action loads, it appears to be the case.
-b.
#141
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,498
It seems that changing the PIN after purchase is a necessary step. You can test the 24 hours but I'm not sure that's a requirement (but it could be in your area as I've heard of them doing it, regionally).
Doesn't hurt to test things as long as you have a friendly CSR and you don't mind the headache of having to call and unblock the card.
-b.
Doesn't hurt to test things as long as you have a friendly CSR and you don't mind the headache of having to call and unblock the card.
-b.
I think this is going to be new MO before buying USB VGCs is to pre open the card packages at the store and confirm that the cards I am going to buy do not have any attempted transactions to save the headache.
#142
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
UPDATE! Changed pin over phone and money order purchase went through 10 minutes later! More hassle to add changing pin to my weekly MS errand but I like this move by US BANK. Without card CID, scammer cannot charge any amount even if they get hold of the card number and expiration date with last 4 digits as default pin unless they tampering with the physical card package!
#143
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
I experienced the most creative of these type of scams last summer. I can go into greater detail if this is the appropriate thread to do so. I didn't see a specific USB VGC thread.
-b.
#144
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,467
You can always start a new thread. Otherwise post your experience here. If the side discussion gets too detailed, a mod can always break it into a separate thread.
#145
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
They can and it's the most common type of fraud that I've experienced with the USB VGCs. I've only seen a PIN-based debit transaction once and all other card drains have just been debit transactions (swiped, no PIN used..)
I experienced the most creative of these type of scams last summer. I can go into greater detail if this is the appropriate thread to do so. I didn't see a specific USB VGC thread.
-b.
I experienced the most creative of these type of scams last summer. I can go into greater detail if this is the appropriate thread to do so. I didn't see a specific USB VGC thread.
-b.
#146
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
For those who have experienced a required PIN change, were the cards you bought ones with the PIN as the last four digits or the PIN on the little cardstock that is inside the package?
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
#147
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AA
Posts: 17
For those who have experienced a required PIN change, were the cards you bought ones with the PIN as the last four digits or the PIN on the little cardstock that is inside the package?
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
#148
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
For those who have experienced a required PIN change, were the cards you bought ones with the PIN as the last four digits or the PIN on the little cardstock that is inside the package?
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
I ask because my store seems to carry the PIN on the cardstock and I haven't been required to change the PIN yet.
#149
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
Of course every other GC company that I'm aware of has the initial PIN as the last four (Vanilla is whatever you use as your first PIN-based transaction). Not really sure what the problem is as the cards can be run as credit without requiring a PIN.
#150
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
They can and it's the most common type of fraud that I've experienced with the USB VGCs. I've only seen a PIN-based debit transaction once and all other card drains have just been debit transactions (swiped, no PIN used..)
I experienced the most creative of these type of scams last summer. I can go into greater detail if this is the appropriate thread to do so. I didn't see a specific USB VGC thread.
-b.
I experienced the most creative of these type of scams last summer. I can go into greater detail if this is the appropriate thread to do so. I didn't see a specific USB VGC thread.
-b.